It’s truly a slow day in soccer when a third-choice striker on the move is the most notable snippet of news. SBI correspondent Carl Setterlund put together some tidbits to get you through a slow soccer Saturday.
Crouch close to Pompey switch
The Telegraph reports that Liverpool forward Peter Crouch is close to moving to Portsmouth for a rumored £11 million. Pompey manager Harry Redknapp had an initial bid of £9 million rejected by Liverpool and Rafa Benitez, who has put a (rather exorbitant) £15 million valuation on Crouchie.
Portsmouth look to add the 27-year-old England international to an attacking unit that already includes Jermain Defoe and an aging Nwankwo Kanu in preparation for their UEFA Cup run next season. Crouch is believed to want consistent first team football at Liverpool or away and Benitez, still looking to raise funds for Gareth Barry and Robbie Keane, looks happy to oblige.
Several sources say an ulterior motive for Portsmouth was that Redknapp just couldn’t resist the idea of partnering the 6-7 Crouch with the 5-7 Defoe if for nothing else than the great photo opportunities. (I kid, but here’s to hoping Crouch brings back his robot dance).
Villa and Silva pledge allegiance to Valencia
All of you can take off your manager caps and stop speculating how much it will take to bring Euro 2008 Golden Boot winner David Villa or dynamic winger David Silva to your favorite team.
Despite interest from numerous top clubs across Europe, Spanish heroes Villa and Silva want to remain at Valencia. Los Che managed only a disappointing 10th-place finish in La Liga last season leading to speculation that the club’s two biggest stars might jump ship, but Valencia have made strong efforts to keep the pair from moving, including an increase in wages for Villa.
The bad news (or good if you’re a boss) is that European soccer fans will have less to daydream about now that there will be no dream swoop of either player. In all seriousness though, it’s a little refreshing to see guys succeed in big tournaments and remain happy at their club. Not that Valencia is a small club, but you know what I mean.
Obafemi Martins eyes Arsenal
With rumors of Emmanuel Adebayor’s departure from the Emirates persistent, the Togolese hitman could be replaced by another highly-touted African international. Nigeria striker Obafemi Martins has indicated that he would be interested in a move to Arsenal if Arsene Wenger came calling.
“Arsenal is a big club that everyone wants to play for. I am thrilled and it will be nice to play for such a team," the Newcastle striker told British paper The Sun.
Like Crouch, Martins has supposedly had a £15 million price-tag slapped on him, but the 23-year-old also has a £13 million buy-out clause. While Martins certainly fits into Wenger’s usual preferred age range, I can’t help but think he would shy away from that cost.
Do I think he can replace a top forward like Adebayor? No, not really. I’m with Ives that Wenger should be knocking down Klaas-Jan Huntelaar’s door if he really thinks Adebayor is on his way out. A club like Arsenal has too much on the line not have a world-class player up front.
Is Crouch going to be a big addition for Portsmouth? Should Villa and Silva have rode the wave back to a Champions League club? Is Obafemi Martins capable of starting for any of the Big Four? Share your thoughts below…
To be fair though, Huntelaar is a stud and with Martins, scoring 11 goals for Newcastle is like scoring 20 goals someplace else with what a mess that club is. I do think Adebayor grew into his own this past season though.
Wow, Arsenal fans really know how to appreciate a guy that scores 24 league goals…are you people delusional?
I’m not saying you shouldn’t cash in Adebayor for 30 million, but to say that Martins or Huntelaar would be better for Arsenal is a big leap of faith. Huntelaar might have an impressive goal scoring record in Holland, but let’s remember, Dirk Kuyt once scored 29 goals in the Eredivisie. While Martins highest Prem goal tally is 11.
Ameobi is headed to the championship, if im not mistaken
But what does this mean for AMEOBI??!?!?!
Gotta love my boys staying at Valencia 🙂
Huntelaar is the best of the three, but I actually think Martins is better than Adebayor. And Arsenal ain’t winning anything with any of them.
I prefer Jonothon Carlos Elliot to Obafemi Martins.
I’d prefer Klaas Jan-Huntelaar over Obefemi Martins.
Having watched Martins quite often since his days with Inter, I don’t think Arsenal would miss a beat. In fact, I think he could potentially add that “killer instinct” which Arsenal sometimes lack.
Lets face it, despite his impressive goal tally, you’d be hard pressed to find a first-choice striker miss more sitters than Adebayor did this term. As an Arsenal fan, I’m actually still not completely sold on him. His goal return at Monaco was underwhelming, and I think if he is still sold on to Barca we may look back and say what a shrewd bit of business this was on the part of the Gunners.
Bottom line, I would welcome some fresh blood up top in the form of Martins or Huntelaar. It’s not as if Adebayor was ever looking like leading Arsenal to important trophies. Buy low, sell high, I say.